Tuesday, June 10, 2014

Astros blow it with Correa

.332/.421/.509.

That's 19-year old and 2012 1-1 pick Carlos Correa's slash line in the California League, where he was recently named to the Cal League All-Star Team. Correa is 7th in the league in runs scored (44), 9th in hits (75), tied for 3rd in triples (5), 4th in RBI (52), 15th in Total Bases (115), 11th in walks (32), 4th in stolen bases (20), 5th in batting average (.332), 3rd in OBP (.421), and 9th in OPS (.930). He's just a shade under four years younger than the average Cal League hitter - in 266 Plate Appearances, only four PAs have come against younger pitchers.

In April, Correa hit .300/.366/.463. In May he hit .330/.389/.496. In nine June games he's hitting .419/.617/.677. After missing about a week with a sore shoulder in late April/early May, Correa is hitting .349/.451/.534.

Maybe you look at his splits and think "yeah but those LHP splits" and you would notice something - mainly that Correa is hitting .389/.475/.593 against RHP and .169/.258/.271 against LHP. Alarming, right? But don't worry! Correa hit .283/.365/.440 against RHP and .432/.523/.550 against LHP at Quad Cities last year - so let's just keep in mind that his 2014 LHP splits are wrapped up in 66 plate appearances and move on.

Here's the point: For the first time during the regular season, the Corpus Christi Hooks are playing a game tonight at Minute Maid Park against the San Antonio Missions that is billed as the "Astros Futures Game." Yet the shortstop of the future is in Lancaster, tearing up the league.

Nolan Fontana is hitting .273/.432/.397 at Corpus, and OKC has Ronny Torreyes (.728 OPS) and Gregorio Petit (.729 OPS) getting time at short, as well. So there's not exactly a domino effect here, although you can't tell me with a straight face that any of those guys - or Jonathan Villar, for that matter - are keeping Correa from advancing through the system. Also, Fontana and Torreyes have played more 2B than SS for Corpus and OKC, respectively.

The JetHawks were off today, after playing a day game at Visalia yesterday. That provided plenty of time to get Correa to Houston to play in front of Astros fans in a "Futures Game" and into a league that, you know, might offer a challenge - because it's not happening in Lancaster. It's been an exciting few weeks for Astros fans, what with all the winning, and all - but this was a giant opportunity for the Astros to show off Correa to Houston, and they whiffed.

I for one am glad that the Stros have a front office in place to make these decisions because I can only imagine what would happen if it was left up to fans like yourself.

The front office thinks the kid (and he damn sure is that) needs more time. Simple as that in my mind. I would hate Luhnow if they rushed him and screwed him up for life. You bloggers and rapid fans that scream for Correa to be called up today would be outside Minute Maid park with pitch forks if they rushed him and he never became so much as a bench guy. And don't give me none of that, Correa is a can't miss because the fact of the matter is that more of them miss than actually hit.

A couple of things to note about the comments - first of all, none of you (here, anyway; Twitter was a little different) called me a douche, and I thank you for that. This was mainly a civil discussion, which is great.

First: I wasn't calling for him to get called up to Minute Maid to play for the Astros. Just the Hooks, in time for the Futures Game, and then continue at Double-A.

Second: It wouldn't be a publicity stunt. Look at his numbers at Lancaster, it's not as though they'd be rushing a 24-year old right fielder with a .400 OPS just so the fans could get a look at him. He's earned his Double-A spot.

Third: Of course I don't know the inner-workings of the front office or the coaching staff. I don't live in California and, thus, don't go to California League games. It's entirely possible - and probable - that They want him to work on something that doesn't show up in the box score or game reports (which we do read every day).

I'm a season ticket holder for the Corpus Christi Hooks and as much as Our family would like to see Correa in a Hooks uniform, we want that to be when the Astros think he's ready for the next step. I would really like to see his BA against lefties improve....especially in a League this year that seems to have a lot more lefties as starters when compared to prior years. I look at some of the decisions made by the prior Astros regime who thought players were ready for the jump to Double-A only to see them tank. The California League is known as a hitters leagues.....some of those guys come to Corpus Christi and they have a hard time with the adjustment and our ballpark isn't known as being homer friendly even with the wind going out to left. The Astros will send Correa to us when they feel he's ready for the next level.

Greetings, Dirty Blogger. (Get it... D.B.) I remember when you had a sad because we weren't "commenting on the internet" as much as you would have liked, so LAY OFF. Just kidding. Correa has actually raised his average against lefties up from .098 as of two weeks ago, so what ever the problem was, I think he's solved it. I don't know who those lefties were, but I think they bear watching.

I want to make two points. Firstly, AC readers are usually discerning and intelligent, and normally handsome too. Secondly, many people say that the A-->AA jump is the largest in the steps a player will take on a path to the majors. The Front Office needs to make the decision when it is right. In many ways, I am glad that, just for the purposes of publicity, that hasn't happened.

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